■ Chapter 2: A future proof grid

2.

A Future proof grid

3ME

Integration of Data-drIven and model-based enGIneering in fuTure industriAL Technology With value chaIn optimization

TRL

prof. dr. ir. Tamas Keviczky

Tata Steel, Airborne International, ASM Pacific Technology, Philips, ASML, Canon, Demcon, VDL, TNO,

Stamicarbon, Altran, Qing, Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Groningen, Leiden University Summary

High-tech systems are increasingly complex and difficult to design, produce and maintain. There is a lack of synergy between model-based engineering and data-driven approaches, which hamper the development of reliable and agile digital twins. A digital twin is the description of a process or system that is enhanced with (live) data simulating the real world as accurately as possible. Researchers aim to develop methods to make accurate digital twins of such high-tech systems; with the development of a unified mathematical (mathware) and ICT (software) platform for integrating model-based engineering methods and data-driven approaches to significantly improve the current value chain. This asks for a more integrated approach in which the identification and control steps are closely intertwined and models are updated via data-driven methods. The challenge for this research is to establish a more engineering discipline instead of developing one-off solutions.

What’s next?

For applied mathematics and computational sciences to develop the mathematical underpinnings and scalable algorithms that will take a digital twin to the next level. This means moving from doing the fundamental science on how to build and set up a digital twin to becoming an engineering tool that can be used for designing and controlling high-tech applications. The researchers aim to develop a platform that covers all key enabling technologies for the automated development of digital twins and their use for technology health management, as well as for control systems reconfiguration and optimization, and demonstrating this in a real-life setting. Contribution to the Energy Transition

Digital twins can play an important role in various applications related to our renewable based energy system. It can act as an accurate, timely and reliable support tool for decision making of stakeholders at all engaged levels. Applications you can think of are: control room advice, education & training, reflective analysis, autonomous short- and long-term decision-making & support, asset management, field operation support, automatic controller reconfiguration, collaborative decision making, and predictive maintenance. 27

TRL

EEMCS

EASY-RES - Enable Ancillary Services by Renewable Energy Sources

dr. Milos Cvetkovic, dr. Aleksandra Lekic, dr. ir. Aditya Shekhar, prof. dr. Peter Palensky

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Seville, and more…

Summary

In the past we had large fossil fuel fed generators that produce a lot of energy on a stable, robust, controllable and predictable way. With the increased generation of renewable energy we are downsizing in terms of scale – there are many more units that feed into the network with increase variability and uncertainty. This causes power volatility, large frequency deviations and voltage regulation problems which are challenging to manage. The researcher aims to improve the technical characteristics of the renewables so they mimic the behaviour of a conventional generator – by developing ways in which they can aggregate the behaviour of many solar panels or wind turbines. With electrical power engineering, control theory, ICT, algorithms and other methodologies he is building controllers embedded with intelligence for the renewables. The biggest challenge is to develop controllers that can simultaneously do multiple things.

What’s next?

The next step is to move from the technical development into the more regulation and market developments. These controllers do not exist yet. They need to build these controllers at low cost And it would be preferred for the controllers to have a dimming function so the spilling of energy can be reduced developing new services.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

With the development of these controllers the volatility of a renewably fed energy system can be more easily managed to ensure a steady supply of electricity to every socket in the network.

EEMCS

MIGRATE - Massive InteGRATion of Power Electronic Devices

dr. Jose Luis Rueda Torres

TRL

Summary

The way our electrical grid operates is a continuous balancing act - what is generated must be balanced with what is needed at any instant. This is done by transmission system operators. Fluctuating renewable energy causes imbalances between consumption and production of electricity. Modern renewable generators are connected to the grid through a power electronic converter. In a conventional electric system, the consequence is that inertia from a renewable generator is not transferred to the grid. In systems with zero or low inertia, power failures in the grid cause fast and large dynamic phenomena. The longer it takes to respond to these instabilities, the more energy is required to restore the system to its stable state. In the absence of inertia conventional control and protection equipment cannot work properly anymore, and therefore the grid stability is at risk. The researcher is working on developing new control principles for our electrical grid on a system level.

What’s next?

MIGRATE was mainly focused on onshore generation systems so a next step would be to look at the generation and control of offshore renewable systems. Another next step will be looking into new principles of control of the grid when you connect huge capacity electrolysers to the grid or what type of control is needed when different consumers and devices can provide support to stabilize the grid.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

Our current electrical grid is very inert due to the decoupling of renewable power plants. The researcher works on new fundamental operational and control principles for complex, unpredictable, and inherently instable future offshore-onshore energy systems dominated by renewable energy sources.

TRL

EEMCS

URSES - Uncertainty Reduction in Smart Energy Systems

dr. Ilya Tyuryukanov

dr. Matija Naglic, dr. ir. Marjan Popov

Summary

In the future, the increase in generation of energy from renewable sources will intensify stability problems and will increase the uncertainties in planning and operation of electric power systems. Unexpected disturbances and inadequate system monitoring can cause catastrophic failures such as blackouts. Existing monitoring and control schemes often cannot cope with these problems due to the lack of coordinated control when the system is affected by large disturbances. The researchers aim to create a wide-area intelligent system, that empowers the future power grids by providing real-time information, quickly assessing system vulnerability, and performing timely corrective control actions based on system-wide considerations. The researcher developed algorithms that can help in deciding when and where to split parts of the grid in order to maintain the grid stability, prevent blackouts, and minimize the impact on the power consumers.

What’s next?

The innovative idea has been developed for monitoring and control of the stability of medium to large scale electric power grids up to the European scale. The next step could be to apply the found solution for protecting a realistic power grid. Furthermore, some enhancements in terms of modelling would be desirable to capture the full degree of complexity of large-scale power grids.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

With a new way for timely corrective control the researchers aim to prevent catastrophic blackouts, independent of any future network generation mix, unpredictable topology and load profile.

EEMCS IDE 3ME

LIFE: Local Inclusive Future Energy City Platform

dr. ir. Arjen van der Meer

prof. dr. Peter Palensky, prof. dr. Tamas Keviczky, dr. Abhigyan Singh

TRL

Summary

With the rise of more solar panels, electric vehicles or even more houses or energy intensive commercial buildings there is an increasing stress on our electricity network. Situations where supply and demand are unbalanced can be resolved by increasing the capacity of the network or can be met by exploring smart energy management solutions. Against the backdrop of further urbanisation in the Amsterdam ZO-region, designing and operating urban energy systems in an inclusive is a major challenge of the energy transition. The researchers aim to develop a scalable energy exchange platform to resolve both grid challenges and foster the participation of local residents into energy challenges. Through the platform they want to engage both large customers and residential energy users. The insight into how the exchange and other energy services will work will be simulated by setting up a digital twin.

What’s next?

When the math core of the digital twin is active and people from the companies and neighborhoods can submit their data to it the next step is to start writing applications for it – open source – enabling a participatory urban energy system. This concept will be scaled up technically with heat network extensions and geographically targeting other areas such as Rotterdam Schiebroek.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

With the development of a smart energy exchange platform the researchers aim to contribute to battling energy poverty and increase awareness of what the energy transition entails for the local stakeholders. The participation process allows the planning and development of grid-friendly and community inclusive energy innovations.

TRL

EEMCS

FlexBat - Integration of Battery Energy Storage Systems in Distribution Grids

Marco Stecca MSc

dr. Thiago Batista Soeiro, dr. ir. Laura Ramirez Elizondo, prof. dr. ir. Pavol Bauer

Summary

Adding batteries to the grid might be a way to mitigate the impact of the expected fluctuating energy supply when we rely and solely use renewable resources. This is not easy to achieve. Conventional batteries are very expensive and rules and regulations are missing to determine who can add and own such a battery to the network as consumers can become suppliers too. This makes the business case unclear. Developing and adding functionalities to the usage of the battery can help sort out the business case. The researcher aims to develop techniques and guidelines for the sizing, location, and control of battery energy storage systems in distribution grids and for the design of the power electronics converter used to interface the storage system with the network. For this he is developing a special power convertor and developing algorithms for the integration of the batteries in the grid.

What’s next?

For this innovative idea to work the next step would be to change policy so it would become easier for these batteries be deployed. These batteries open up new possible business models for storing and using the energy when needed. Another next step, technology wise could be to consider more applications for the deployment of batteries to the grid.

Contribution to the Energy Transition

Transforming our energy system to rely solely on renewable energy can destabilize our grid, especially in cases of congestion or peak usage of electricity. By adding batteries to the grid local buffering reservoirs where energy can be stored and retrieved can be created. These batteries give the grid more stability and make it more healthy.